Police nab man after 12-hour crime spree
Colorado Springs Police arrested a man this morning who they say car-jacked a taxi cab driver, robbed a fast-food restaurant and then stole another vehicle, all while leading police and sheriff’s deputies on a chase through the city and county this morning.
The man, who has not been identified by police, eventually ditched the second vehicle and tried to run away from police on foot in south Colorado Springs before he was Tased and arrested about 8:45 a.m. Police are still searching the area for a woman who was said to be with him.
According to police, the crime spree started about 7 p.m. Wednesday when a man and a woman car-jacked a cab driver who had a mini-van taxi. Police didn't say where the car-jacking occured.
About 4:15 a.m. today, police say, the pair took the stolen taxi through the drive-through window at Carl’s Junior at 1890 S. Chelton Road. When they pulled up to the fast-food window, the man pointed a gun at the employee and demanded money. The pair got an undetermined amount of money from the restaurant, then sped away in the mini-van.
Police got in a short chase with the min-van but then called it off when the cab began moving recklessly. The stolen cab was eventually found in the Black Forest area. Soon after, El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies got word of a Chevy SUV stolen by the suspects. Sheriff’s deputies got into a brief chase with the SUV, at times at speeds of up to 100 mph, but then called off that chase because of safety concerns.
Because the stolen SUV had GPS tracking through OnStar, authorities were able to keep tabs on the vehicle. About 8:45 a.m. today, police say, the stolen SUV blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Ruskin Drive and Browning Avenue in south Colorado Springs, and got into a minor crash with another vehicle. The man, who was drivng the SUV, tried to run away but was caught and Tased by nearby police. Police have not found the woman who they say was with the man during the crimes. Police are searching the area for her, however they are not sure if she was in the vehicle when it crashed, said Sgt. Steve Noblitt, of Colorado Springs Police.
Noblitt said the man faces possible aggravated robbery charges, among other possible charges.
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